Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends!  The big snow that was predicted didn't come here!  Weather  has been nice, and plenty of snow for all the people who love the snow to ski, ice skate, snow board etc. etc. Today's blessing for me was getting all my recipes organized since I moved here!  That took hours, but got it all done - Praise the Lord!  There were quite a few I threw away too, but some with my Mother's handwriting are treasures!  Since I don't cook by recipes so much - it was good to see my really old ones, etc. to get ideas again, especially good chicken recipes.  There are many!

Do you have a favorite recipe?

Look beyond people's behaviors and have compassion for what may

be causing their insensitivities. Lord, I will not take everything personal

because I don't know the weight of my neighbor's cross.

S C R I P T U R E   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

"Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!  For
great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the
LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!"  ~Psalm 117:1-2

M E D I T A T I O N   F O R   T H E   D A Y

"Praise the Lord." What does praising God mean?  It means being
grateful to God for all the wonderful things in the universe and all
the blessings in our lives.  We can praise God by being grateful and
humble. Praise of this kind has more power to vanquish evil than has
mere resignation.  The truly grateful and humble person who is always
praising God is not tempted to do wrong.  We can have a feeling of
security because we know that fundamentally all is well.  So we can
look to God and praise God.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

I pray that I may be grateful for all my blessings.  I pray that I may
humbly accept all that God has given me. 

PRAYER FOR THE VIRTUE OF FAITH

Jesus, Your faith was in the Heavenly Father, Your steadfastness being my living model! Kindly grant me the richness of such faith, To embrace Your Father as my true Provider, Having staunch belief in His eminent powers And to remain loyal to Him until my last day. If my faith shifts as temporary waves, Rush to my rescue without any hesitation, Protecting others from my fleeting frailty. May Your Presence always be lively enjoyed, Enabling me to shine as a flame of faith. My faith loyally reaches out to You!

The Road of Life 

At first, I saw Spirit as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president, a judge, but I really didn't know Him.

But later on, when I really met and began to understand Spirit, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Spirit was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places and I agreed... and life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. I always did things my way. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, Spirit's and mine. And we were off again.

He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Spirit.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says... Pedal."

- Author Unknown

JESUS was born,
      that I might be born twice.

HE became poor,
      that I might possess wealth.

HE became homeless,
      that I might have mansions.

HE was stripped,
      that I always should have clothes.

HE was forsaken,
      that I always should have friends.

HE was bound,
      that I might have perfect liberty.

HE was sad,
      that I might have full joy.

HE descended,
      that I should be lifted up.

HE became a servant,
      that I might be a son forever.

HE was hungry,
      that I should always have food.

HE was made sin,
      that I should share HIS righteousness.

HE died,
      that I should never taste Eternal death.

HE will come down,
      that I might go up.

All of this -- that HE might display in me the riches of HIS grace
     and be the companion of God in the heavenlies!

WHY I LOVE CHRISTMAS?
By Bo Sanchez

 I love Christmas.
 I love the Christmas meals.
 Not just the food, mind you.
 Like a few minutes ago, I just came from my Mom's house for our
Christmas lunch.
 My sisters, their husbands, and most of the kids were there—and we
ate and talked the whole time.
 We had a seven-hour lunch!
 As most of us were trying to be healthy, we didn't have traditional
Christmas dishes like Lechon, Crispy Pata, and  Ham. Instead, we had
green leafy salad with yogurt, fish fillet, and vegetarian pasta.
 Impressed? Don't be. Being the Sanchez household (where everyone is
sweet), we still had Leche Flan, Apple pie, and two gallons of ice
cream. Haha!
 Yes, our food was fantastic. But our Christmas meal wasn't about the
food.
 It was about being together.
 It was about love, family, relationships, and all that good stuff.
 After our lunch and before desert, we snuck into the prayer room, sat
on the floor, and sang a few songs together.
 For years, I used to play the guitar for our family Christmas
worship.
 But this year, my son Bene did us the favor of strumming the guitar.
And his cousin, Joseph, played a few more  Christmas songs for us. I
have officially retired as the main music ministry of the family.
 And around me were my young nieces and nephews—all serving God and
all enjoying a deep relationship with   God. The feeling was
unbelievable.
 Oh, to see the next generation take on the baton and serve the Lord.
What else should I seek for?
 Before the altar, each of us took turns thanking God for His
blessings for the year. 
 We then prayed for new blessings for the new year.
 It was awesome.
 After the many Amens, we all marched down and ate our ice cream—and
talked for 3 more hours.
 This is what Christmas is all about.
 That's why I love Christmas.
 I can't wait for the next one.

December 29 - Jesus Calling

Trust Me with every fiber of your being! What I can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on Me. One aspect of this is the degree to which you trust Me in a crisis or major decision. Some people fail miserably here, while others are at their best in tough times. Another aspect is even more telling: the constancy of your trust in Me. People who rely on Me in the midst of adversity may forget about Me when life is flowing smoothly.

Difficult times can jolt you into awareness of your need for Me, whereas smooth sailing can lull you into the stupor of self-sufficiency.
I care as much about your tiny trust-steps through daily life as about your dramatic leaps of faith.

You may think that no one notices, but the One who is always beside you sees everything—and rejoices. Consistently trusting in Me is vital to flourishing in My Presence.

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 
—Psalm 40:4

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
—Psalm 56:3–4

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
—Psalm 62:8
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
—Isaiah 26:3–4

[gloriajean]

[NAES1]

@gloriajean    I enjoy each inspirational clause. Sometimes I have to go back and either reread, or copy. Thank you very much for these beautiful messages.

"...please note that ShowMe is still having chemo therapy for melanoma.

The oncologist believes she will have to continue for one to two more years.

 There is a likely chance that the cancer may spread to other areas -organs without further treatment.

Also, there is the question here, with her decision, to have a port placed for future infusions.  That means *her veins may become weak and collapse*.

 I feel certain that most know  'of'  ShowMe, if not, she has a thread from years ago, long before she was diagnosed with melanoma.

 '_That diagnosis was, as far as I know, was told to her last January, 2015'_.

                 This has been a heavy battle for her, as it would for any of us.

Sending prayers continuiously. Thank you dear POSTER for reading".

[gloriajean]

Hello Naes - Happy you enjoy reading the thread, and yes, we'll be praying for ShowMe.  

Please would you also remember my neighbor, Linda, who lives downstairs of this apartment complex, who is suffering with cancer also, and is trying a new drug, only out 3 weeks ago, very strong.  Please pray it works for her.  Linda is 63. She also will have to go on dialysis soon, I feel for her!